一时

一時

yīshí

adverb/noun HSK 6 #3,603

Meanings

1 for a while; temporary; momentary
2 for the moment; at that time
3 on impulse; on the spur of the moment

Characters

time; period; moment

One moment in time — temporarily, for a while.

Examples

我一时想不起来他的名字。

Wǒ yīshí xiǎng bù qǐlái tā de míngzi.

I can't recall his name at the moment.

他一时冲动说了那些话。

Tā yīshí chōngdòng shuō le nàxiē huà.

He said those things on impulse.

这个问题一时半会儿解决不了。

Zhège wèntí yīshí bànhuìr jiějué bù liǎo.

This problem can't be solved in a short time.

一时的失败不算什么。

Yīshí de shībài bú suàn shénme.

A temporary failure doesn't mean anything.

Tips

usage

一时 has several nuances: (1) 'at the moment' — 一时想不起来 (can't think of it right now); (2) 'on impulse' — 一时冲动 (impulsive moment); (3) 'temporary' — 一时的困难 (temporary difficulty). Context determines the meaning.

usage

一时半会儿 (yīshí bànhuìr) = in a short while (usually negative: can't do something quickly). 一时兴起 (yīshí xīngqǐ) = on a whim.

Stroke Order

一 yī

时 shí